the ecoustics podcast

Latest Episodes:

Can Dolby Atmos Sound Better Over Headphones? Hyunkook Lee of APL says, "YES!" Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

While Apple Music, TIDAL and Amazon Music are all pushing spatial audio and immersive sound as the next big thing, the current reality is that, to get the best, most immersive effect, you need speakers: lots and lots of speakers. Of course, you *can* listen to immersive sound formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X on headphones, but the current processes to render a multi-channel recording into a 2-channel binaural signal, suitable for playback on headphones, leave room for improvement.
APL (Advanced Psychoacoustics Lab) is dedicated to fixing this problem. The company's Virtuoso software can convert any 2-channel or multi-channel recording to a standard binaural headphone mix that maintains all the sonic cues of a real three-dimensional mix or space. Join eCoustics CEO Brian Mitchell on this episode of the eCoustics podcast as he chats with APL founder Professor Hyunkook Lee to discuss the current state of immersive sound over headphones and what can be done to make it better.
Learn more at:
https://apl-hud.com/
Keep up with the latest audio and video news at https://www.ecoustics.com
Thank you to our sponsors SVS & Q Acoustics! For more information on these stellar brands, please click the links below:
https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
#dolbyatmosheadphones #binauralsound #immersivesound #dolbyatmos #spatialaudio #virtuososoftware #aplaudio #aesnews #aes #audioengineers
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Biggest Surprises From CES 2025: The Good And The Bad Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

In our second podcast devoted to new products and technologies unveiled in Las Vegas at CES 2025, the eCoustics team discusses what you’ll want to be on the lookout for and what you may want to avoid. This wide ranging discussion addresses Eclipsa Audio, HDR10+ and new advancements in TVs and projectors, along with some surprises you won’t want to miss.
Panel:
Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder & CEO (Host)
Chris Boylan, Editor at Large
Robert Silva, Sr. News Editor
Best in Show CES 2025 Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ecoustics-podcast/id1566783125?i=1000684074466
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7C0QVJdjQVYU5GpnJaPAHg
https://youtu.be/Fwai0nfUl8U
Full story:
https://www.ecoustics.com/articles/best-ces-2025/
Thank you to our sponsors SVS & Q Acoustics! For more information on these stellar brands, please click the links below:
https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#ces2025 #cesconvention #audiophile #hifi #hometheater #lifestylesound #interiordesign #audioindustry #ecoustics #projectors #4ktv #luxuryaudio #luxuryav #inwallspeakers #outdoorspeakers #consumertech #futuretech #multimedianews
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Best in Show from CES 2025: The Audio/Video Gear that Impressed Us Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

In amongst the AI and robots that invaded this year's CES, we found some cool and innovative audio/video gear and technology. Check out our 21 picks for "Best in Show."
Find all of our in depth coverage of CES 2025 here:
https://www.ecoustics.com/articles/best-ces-2025/
https://www.youtube.com/ecoustics
Thank you to our sponsors SVS & Q Acoustics! For more information on these stellar brands, please click the links below:
https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com
Panel:
Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder & CEO (Host)
Chris Boylan, eCoustics Editor-at-Large
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#ces2025 #cesconvention #audiophile #hifi #hometheater #lifestylesound #interiordesign #audioindustry #ecoustics #projectors #4ktv #luxuryaudio #luxuryav #inwallspeakers #outdoorspeakers #consumertech #futuretech #multimedianews
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Gryphon Audio Embodies Nordic Noir with Global Sales Director Rune Skov Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we welcome back Rune Skov, Gryphon Audio’s Sales Director for his second appearance on the podcast. Rune discusses some of Gryphon’s new products and the secrets to creating an ultra-luxe high-end audio brand.
Panel:
Rune Skov, Gryphon Audio Global Sales Director
Mitch Anderson, Host & eCoustics Podcast Producer
Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder & CEO
Previous Podcasts about Gryphon Audio:
https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/gryphon-audio-rune-skov/
https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/gryphon-dealer-joseph-cali/
https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/gryphon-audio-anthony-chiarella/
For more information:
https://gryphon-audio.dk
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#hifi #ecoustics #listeningroom #gryphonaudio #ultraluxe #luxuryaudio #danishdesign #audiophile #highendaudio #breakingthesoundbarrier #nordicnoir #costnoobject #vinylcommunity #turntables
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Inside the 2024 UST Projector Showdown: Reference vs. Preference Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

The results are in for the 2024 UST Projector Showdown, and while some UST projectors shone brightly (quite literally), other strong performers didn't fare as well as expected. Event host Brian Gluck, emcee Phil Jones and judge Chris Boylan discuss the details of how the contenders were selected, what went down in the showdown and why the picture settings were what they were at the event.
See the scorecards and full results here:
https://www.ecoustics.com/news/best-ust-projector-ust-showdown-2024/
Where to buy all projectors:
http://www.projectorscreen.com/?af=e-bpbs-af
Panel:
Chris Boylan, eCoustics Editor-at-Large and Host
Brian Gluck, Owner and President, ProjectorScreen.com
Philip Jones, Technical Editor and Lead Reviewer, ProjectorReviews.com
Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com
#USTProjector #USTshowdown #miniprojector #ecoustics #projectorscreens #projectorshootout #tcl #hisense #hometheater #hdr #uhd #4k #8k #tvtech #2024bestof #2024tv
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Blue Note’s Tone Poet Society Subscriptions Are Making Us Feel Kind of Blue Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

There were several exciting jazz record announcements last week, with the most anticipated being the 2025 Blue Note Tone Poet release schedule. Not expected was the simultaneous reveal of a new subscription service dubbed the Tone Poet Society. In this episode of the eCoustics podcast, Mitch Anderson and Eric Pye break down the different service features and tiers, the pros and cons of the Society, and share both their own and social media reactions to the announcement.
Thank you to our sponsors SVS and Q Acoustics!
Links for further information:
Blue Note Tone Poet Society Website
Japanese Jazz Kissa and the Art of the Piano Trio: Exit to Vintage Street
Jazz Kissa Culture Goes Global: Exit to Vintage Street
In the Episode:

Eric Pye, Vintage Audio Columnist
Mitch Anderson, Podcast Producer

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #jazzkissa #vinylcommunity #ecoustics #bluenotetonepoet #tonepoetsociety #bluenoterecords #musicsubscriptionservice #vinylsubscriptionservice #musicindustrynews
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Vinyl Record Sales Are Not Down, Luminate and Warner Respond Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

For the last 18 years the vinyl record industry in the U.S. has sustained a continuous uptick in sales. So when a report last month by Luminate, the leading music industry source for tracking music consumption, indicated a precipitous 33% drop during the first half of 2024, it caused quite a stir. Since then, Luminate has retracted its original report, and followed up with a corrected report saying vinyl sales were actually up 2.2% in 2024.
To find why this happened, we speak with Chris Muratore, Director at Luminate and music industry insider Billy Fields from Warner Music Group.
Ultimately counting record sales isn’t as easy as it may seem. Although Luminate gets accurate accounting of record sales from major online websites and big box retailers, sales from independent record stores (“indies”) are harder to come by. That wouldn’t be such a big deal, except for the fact that an estimated 40% of record sales are from indies in the U.S. So with only a small fraction of indies reporting vinyl sales, Luminate has always estimated the indie portion in its reports. But how they estimate matters.
A small change in Luminate’s estimation algorithm caused a dramatic turn of events. But there is more to the story of vinyls resurgence, so we hope you’ll tune in to take a deep dive into the vinyl music industry.
Thank you to our sponsors SVS and Q Acoustics!
For more information on these stellar brands, please click the links below:
https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com
Related links:
https://luminatedata.com
https://vinylalliance.org
https://www.riaa.com/u-s-sales-database/
https://www.ifpi.org
https://www.wmg.com
https://www.discogs.com/digs/collecting/vinyl-sales-up-in-2024/
Panel:
• Mitch Anderson, Host & eCoustics Podcast Producer
• Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder & CEO
• Chris Muratore, Director, Luminate
• Billy Fields, VP Sales, Warner Music Group
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#vinylcommunity #musicindustry #vinylrecordindustry #luminate #billboardcharts #wmg #warnermusicgroup #musicbusinessnews #ecoustics #mediamanufacturing #makingvinyl #vinylalliance #blackcircleradio #sourceoflightandpower
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

LTA: Not Your Grand-Daddy's Tube Amps, A Conversation with Nicholas Tolson Nov 03, 2024

Show notes

Boutique electronics manufacturer LTA (Linear Tube Audio) offers cutting edge vacuum tube-based HiFi components designed in partnership with the legendary amp designer David Berning. Our Producer Mitch Anderson chats with LTA's Sales and Marketing Manager Nicholas Tolson about the company's new Aero DAC and Velo Headphone Amplifier, which LTA has been showing to much acclaim at high-end audio shows all over the country.
As a show veteran, we also get Tolson's perspective on the best way for HiFi show attendees to make the most out of their visits. Find out why everything sounds better on Sundays, why song requests should not never be shouted ("Freebird!") and other insider tips.
For more information on Linear Tube Audio please visit:
https://www.lineartubeaudio.com
Thank you to our sponsors SVS & QAcoustics! For more information on these stellar brands, please click the links below:
https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#audiophile #LTA #ZOTL #LinearTubeAudio #lifestylesound #interiordesign #tubeampdesign #audioindustry #ecoustics #musictech #HIFIShows #CAF2024 #Audio DAC#hiresaudio #hifi
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

The Best Path to Better TV Sound: Soundbar or Separates? Oct 26, 2024

Show notes

While TV picture quality continues to improve, TV sound quality is still pretty terrible, maybe even worse than it used to be. What's a poor movie and music lover to do? Will a cheap soundbar do the trick or is it really necessary to bite the bullet and go with a component-based sound system? Maybe something in between?
Listen in as eCoustics founder Brian Mitchell and editor-at-large Chris Boylan discuss what options are out there now and whether you can get great sound at home without complicated set-up or a huge investment.
Thank you to our sponsors Chord, SVS & Q Acoustics!
For more information on these stellar brands, please click the links below:
https://soundorg.com/ultima-integrated-amplifier/
https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com
On the panel:
Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder & CEO
Chris Boylan, eCoustics Editor at Large
Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#hometheater #soundbar #theaterbar #televisions #ecoustics #hifi #surroundsound #dolbyatmos #immersiveaudio #bringingthecinemahome #braviatheater #avtech #homelistening
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Home Theater vs. Movie Theater: Does Anyone Even Go to The Movies Anymore? Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

There’s no denying that movie theater attendance and revenues still haven’t recovered from the pandemic. In fact, 2024 looks like it may end significantly weaker than 2023 for box office revenue. With inexpensive 98-inch TVs, great sounding home theater systems and soundbars, is there even a future for the movie theater? And if so, what does that look like?
Join the conversation with eCoustics Editor-in-Chief Ian White and Editor-at-Large Chris Boylan as they discuss the current and possible future state of movies in theaters and in the home.
Panel:
Ian White, eCoustics Editor-in-Chief (Host)
Chris Boylan, eCoustics Editor-at-Large
Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#hifi #audiophile #boxoffice2024 #imax #amc #directtostreaming #ecoustics #hometheater #filmsound #surroundsound #hiresplayback #filmproduction #movienews
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

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